초록 ▼

Microprocessor-based vending apparatus incorporating a plurality of separately driven individual dispensing assemblies is disclosed. The dispensing assemblies are scanned to determine their state and any malfunctioning assembly disabled to prevent attempted selection by a user without shutting down

Microprocessor-based vending apparatus incorporating a plurality of separately driven individual dispensing assemblies is disclosed. The dispensing assemblies are scanned to determine their state and any malfunctioning assembly disabled to prevent attempted selection by a user without shutting down the entire vending machine. The state of the malfunctioning dispensing apparatus is retained in memory so that the state of each dispensing assembly may be selectively displayed through activation of a display switch causing the microprocessor to sequentially identify and display those dispensing devices which malfunctioned. The microprocessor performs all change-making functions normally performed in vending machines to greatly reduce the complexity and expense of the coin-accepting apparatus. Additionally, data is stored representing the quantity of each coin denomination present and change-making capability is disabled when coin denominations are reduced to a predetermined count. Cash flow data is stored in memory and may be displayed upon request. All functions of the vending apparatus are continuously monitored to assure proper operation and alarm conditions to identify malfunctions are developed. The status of all such functions are stored in memory for subsequent display or data transfer. Data transfer may be to an off-line printer, an off-line memory, optically coupled data transducers or the like. The off-line memory has a transceiver which is automatically energized by the vending machine transceiver to initiate data transfer.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for vending foodstuffs comprising: a plurality of dispensing means for dispensing said foodstuffs; a power source; an array of selector means, each being electrically isolated from and associated with one of said dispensing means for selecting a foodstuff, each selector means having an ope

Apparatus for vending foodstuffs comprising: a plurality of dispensing means for dispensing said foodstuffs; a power source; an array of selector means, each being electrically isolated from and associated with one of said dispensing means for selecting a foodstuff, each selector means having an operating state and a quiescent state; scanning means for scanning the said array of selector means to determine which dispensing means has been selected; means for identifying a malfunctioning condition for each of said plurality of dispensing means, said means for identifying indicating any of said plurality of dispensing means which have previously malfunctioned and including monitoring means associated with each of said plurality of dispensing means for determining whether its associated dispensing means is in an operating or reset position; and control means responsive to said scanning means and said means for identifying for coupling said power source to the selected dispensing means if the same has not previously malfunctioned and causing the selection of said selected dispensing means to be refused if an indication that the same have previously malfunctioned is present, said indication that the same has previously malfunctioned including a determination that a selected dispensing means is in an operating position at the time dispensing is required.